Major John Sharpe Wright, USAF (Ret.), 85, of Oxford, died Nov. 28. The son of the late Felix H. Wright Sr. and Verda Crawford Wright, he was born in 1924 in Newton County. He was preceded in death by wife of 53 years Barbara Dahl Wright.

Major Wright attended Covington High School and was a graduate of Georgia State University. He was a member of Covington First United Methodist Church. Major Wright served his country from 1942 to 1976, flying in combat in three wars, World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He went into training as a flight officer on B17s. Later he flew B24s in Europe in the 389th Bombardment Group under General James Doolittle and then B29s in Japan and then B25s. Around this time, he became First Lieutenant. The next conflict was the Korean War. He was transferred to fly B26s in the 95th Bomb Squadron, called the Black Knights. He flew 18 combat missions during this time with many being night missions, In the late 1950s, he went into training for F-4Cs. He flew three missions in Vietnam during which he was promoted to captain. He retired in 1976 as a major. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he was a certified real estate appraiser and owned and operated Wright Realty Co.

Surviving are sister Mrs. Florence Wright Prescott of Covington; nieces Mrs. Felicia Wright Lewis of Vero Beach, Fla.; Mrs. Libby Wright Carter of Covington, Mrs. Susie Wright Fugate of Kirkwood, Mo., Mrs. Betsy Jenkins of LaGrange and Mrs. Melissa Brake of Monticello; nephews Mr. Pete Wright of Atlanta and Dr. Andy Wright of Augusta.

Memorials may be made to Newton County Humane Society or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Nov. 30 in the chapel of Harwell-Wheeler Funeral Home with Dr. Alan Posey officiating. Interment followed in Covington City Cemetery.